RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of oxygen dependency in SIBEN neonatal units while adjusting for altitude. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed the charts of infants who were ⩽ 1500 g at birth, admitted to six neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) near sea level and in seven NICUs at varying altitudes above sea level from the SIBEN network between 2008 and 2010. We defined bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as oxygen dependency at 28 days of life and at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. RESULT: There were 767 babies in the first group and 318 in the second group. BPD incidence was greater in hospitals at higher altitudes when it was not corrected for barometric pressure. After correction, there was a decrease in the incidence of oxygen dependency at 28 days of life (P<0.0002) and at 36 weeks corrected age. (P<0.0001) CONCLUSION: After correction for higher altitudes, the decrease in oxygen dependency as equivalent to BPD was significant. A proper classification of BPD for higher altitudes is urgently needed.
Asunto(s)
Altitud , Displasia Broncopulmonar/epidemiología , Recién Nacido de muy Bajo Peso , Oxígeno/sangre , Respiración Artificial , Displasia Broncopulmonar/etiología , Displasia Broncopulmonar/fisiopatología , Humanos , Incidencia , Recién Nacido , Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
The duration and cost of intensive care for premature infants are important concerns for parents and health providers. We developed a mathematical model to predict length of stay and hospital charges from perinatal information. Length of stay was found to decrease exponentially with gestational age. The equation predicted the length of stay within 10 days in 86% of the cases and had an R2 = .765. Gestational age, the presence of respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia were the strongest predictors of hospital charges (R2 = .811). The gestational age threshold below which length and cost of hospitalization were significantly higher was 34 weeks.